Draw curtain type awning



'Aug. 14, 1956 H. L. ANGUS 2,758,643

DRAW CURTAIN TYPE AWNING Filed Dec. 22, ,1954 2 Sheets-Sheet l Fig/r Fig.6

' Harvey L. Angus INVENTOR.

g- 4, 1 H. L. ANGUS 2,758,643

DRAW CURTAIN TYPE AWNING Filed Dec. 22, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 3

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United States Patent 2,758,643 Patented Aug. 14, 1956 fiice DRAW CURTAIN TYPE AWNING Harvey L. Angus, Havre, Mont.

Application December 22, 1954, Serial No. 476,887

4 'Claims. (Cl. 160-88) This invention relates in general to new and useful improvements in awnings, and more specifically to a draw curtain type awning.

In order that sunlight may be kept out of a room through a window during the summertime, it is customary to provide homes with awnings over the windows. However, the awnings are required only during a part of the day inasmuch as the sun travels from east to west with the result that during the remainder of the day, the awning serves no useful purpose and is detrimental inasmuch as it prevents the proper ventilation through the window over which it is placed.

The recent trend has been towards installing rigid metal awnings. Such a type of awning, while relatively sturdy and long lasting, absolutely cannot be collapsed to an out-of-the-way position to permit ventilation and such light as desired. However, the advantages of this type of awning have been recognized in comparison with the cloth type awning which, through a relatively great amount of trouble, could be folded, if desired.

It is the primary object of this invention to provide an awning which includes a draw curtain portion whereby the awning may be selectively opened and closed through a minimum of effort from the interior of a house, and at the same time, the awning has the major exposed portion thereof of a fixed nature and formed of metal so as to be long lasting and highly durable.

Another object of this invention is to provide a draw curtain type awning which includes an upper rigid portion and a lower flexible portion, the flexible portion being so mounted whereby it may be opened and closed in the same manner as a conventional draw drapery for homes.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved awning of the draw curtain type, the awning including an upper rigid portion and a depending curtain portion, the curtain portion being mounted in depending relation with respect to a track and having connected thereto draw cords for opening and closing it.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a window and shows attached to such window the draw curtain type awning which is the subject of this invention, the flexibl'e portion of the awning being in an open, out-of-theway position;

Figure 2 is a perspective view similar to Figure 1 and shows the curtain portion of the awning in a closed awning forming position;

Figure 3 is a horizontal plan view of the lower portion of the awning of Figures 1 and 2, with the upper portion removed and the wall to which the awning is attached shown in section;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 44 of Figure 3 with intermediate portions broken away and shows the general details of construction of the awnings, the upper portion of the awning being illustrated in place;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 5-5 of Figure 4 and shows the general construction of the flexible portion of the awning, the flexible portion being shown in its folded state by dotted lines;

Figure 6 is a bottom plan view of the track on which the flexible portion of the awning is mounted, intermediate portions of the track being broken away; and

Figure 7 is an enlarged perspective view showing the upper portion of the flexible curtain and the manner in which it is attached to the track by hangers, the track being shown in dotted lines and the hangers having connected thereto the draw cord for opening and closing the curtain.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that there is illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, a Wall 10 of a building which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 12. Mounted in the wall 10 is a window 14. Secured to both the window frame of the window 14 and the wall 10 is the draw curtain type awning which is the subject of this invention, the awning being referred to in general by the reference numeral 16.

The awning 16 includes a fixed upper section which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 18. The awning 16 also includes a flexible lower section which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 20, the flexible lower section 20 depending below the upper section 18.

The upper secion 18 is disposed entirely above the window 14 and includes side walls 22 connected together by a front wall 24. Extending between the side walls 22 and connected at its forward edge to the front wall 24 is a downwardly and outwardly sloping roof portion 26.. Extending upwardly from the upper edge of the roof portion 26 in face-to-face engagement with the wall 10 is a vertical mounting flange 28. Similar mounting flanges extend inwardly towards each other from the inner edges of the sides 22, as is best illustrated in Figure 4, the last mentioned flanges being referred to by the reference numeral 30.

The lower section 20 is disposed immediately below the upper section 18 and includes a generally U-shaped track, which is referred to by the reference numeral 32 and is best illustrated in Figure 6. The U-shaped track 32 is formed from a tubular member and is threaded, as at 34, at the free ends thereof. The track 32 is provided in the lower side thereof with a pair of elongated slots 36 which terminate adjacent each other in offset portions 38.

Extending through the track 32 is a pair of draw cords 40 which will be described in more detail hereinafter. Each of the draw cords 40 is interrupted to have connected thereto a hanger which is referred to in genera-l by the reference numeral 42 and is best illustrated in Figure 7. Each of the hangers 42 includes a roller 49 engageable with the inner surface of the track .32 to facilitate movement of the hanger 42 there'through. Depending from each roller 49 is a fastener 46 which terminates at its lower end in an eye 48. Also connected to the fastener of the endmost hanger 42 above its roller 4-9 is a plate 44 to which is connected intermediate portions of an associated one of said draw cords 40. Secured to the hangers 42 and depending therefrom is a pair of identical curtain sections, each of the curtain sections being referred to in general by the reference numeral 50. Each curtain section 50 is hooked to an associated eye 48 by a clip 52.

Each curtain section 50 is formed of an elongated strip of pliable fabric 54. The fabric 54 is strengthened by a plurality of reinforcing strips 56. The reinforcing strips 56 are disposed at spaced intervals along the fabric 54 and are positioned inwardly and outwardly thereof. The reinforcing strips 56 have the inner and outer parts thereof connected together and to the fabric 54 by suitable fasteners 58 which are vertically spaced, as is best illustrated in Figure 4-. It is to be understood that it is preferred that there be one reinforcing strip 56 for each of the hangers 52 and that the reinforcing strips 56 will be connected directly to the hangers 42 by the clips 52. The clips 52 of adjacent reinforcing strips 56 are otfset from the centers of the reinforcing strips 52 to facilitate folding of the curtain sections 50.

Secured to the wall in alignment with the threaded ends 34- of the track 32 are vertically extending outwardly opened channels 69. The channels 60 are intended to receive the curtains 54 when in their folded state, as is best illustrated in Figure 1. Each of the channels 60 has secured thereto a mounting bracket which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 62. Each mounting bracket 62 includes a vertical plate portion 64 which is rigidly secured to the web portion of its associated channel 60. Carried by the lower end of the plate 64 and projecting outwardly therefrom is a threaded fitting 66 which receives a threaded end 34 of the track 32. Extending downwardly from the upper portion of the plate 64 is a stiffening bracket 68 secured to an upper outer part of the track 32.

In order that the curtain 50 may be moved from its closed window shading position of Figure 2 to the open collapsed position of Figure 1 and vice versa, each of the draw cords 40 has a first portion which extends through its associated half of the track 32 and is connected at spaced intervals to the plates 44 of hangers 42. This portion of the draw cord 40 terminates in a knotted end 70 having a grip member 72 positioned thereon. The other half of the draw cord 40 extends inwardly through the track 32 in the vicinity of the offset portion 38 of the associated slot 36 and around a pulley 74. The portion of the draw cord 40 then passes over a second pulley 76 and back into the track 32 through an opening 78 therein, as is best illustrated in Figure 4. The free end of this portion of the draw cord 40 ends in a knot 78 which retains a grip member 80 in place. It is to be noted that the ends of the draw cord 40 pass through a guide member 82 positioned in the wall 10 and over suitable pulleys 84 carried by the inner surface of the wall 10.

By pulling on the ends of the draw cords 40, it will be seen that either section of the curtain 50 may be selectively opened and closed, as desired. Inasmuch as the ends of the draw cords 40 are disposed within the building 12, it will be seen that the average housewife may conveniently open and close the curtain sections 50 as desired, thus affording the house all of the desired ventilation and at the same time, permitting the awning 16 to operate as desired when the sun is shining.

If it is so desired, the outermost portion of the track 32 may be braced by a plurality of longitudinally extending braces 86 which are best illustrated in Figures 3 and 4. The braces 86 extend diagonally downwardly from the wall 10 and are secured to the upper portion of the track 32. Also, there may be secured to the upper surfaces of the braces 86 spacers 88. The spacers 88 will underlie the roof portion 26 and be secured to both the roof portion 26 and the braces 86 by suitable fasteners 90.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. An awning construction comprising a fixed upper awning section including a roof portion, a curtain type awning section depending below said fixed section, said curtain type awning section being flexible, means connected to said curtain type awning section for selectively collapsing the same, and means for supporting said curtain type awning section including a track along the lower edge of said upper section, hangers slidably mounted on said track and connected to said curtain type awning section at spaced intervals.

2. An awning construction comprising a fixed upper awning section including a roof portion, a curtain type awning section depending below said fixed section, said curtain type awning section being flexible, means con nected to said curtain type awning section for selectively collapsing the same, and means for supporting said curtain type awning section including a track along the lower edge of said upper section, hangers slidably mounted on said track and connected to said curtain type awning section at spaced intervals, said first mentioned means including a draw cord connected to said hangers, said draw cord being disposed within the confines of said upper awning section and hidden from direct view thereby.

3. An awning construction comprising a fixed upper awning section including a roof portion, a curtain type awning section depending below said fixed section, said curtain type awning section being flexible, means connected to said curtain type awning section for selectively collapsing the same, and means for supporting said curtain type awning section including a track along the lower edge of said upper section, hangers slidably mounted on said track and connected to said curtain type awning section at spaced intervals, said curtain type awning section being formed in halves, said first mentioned means including a draw cord for each half whereby said halves may be selectively individually opened and closed.

4. An awning construction comprising a fixed upper awning section including a roof portion, a curtain type awning section depending below said fixed section, said curtain type awning section being flexible, means connected to said curtain type awning section for selectively collapsing the same, and means for supporting said curtain type awning section including a track along the lower edge of said upper section, hangers slidably mounted on said track and connected to said curtain type awning section at spaced intervals, said curtain type awning section being formed in halves, said first mentioned means including a draw cord for each half whereby said halves may be selectively individually opened and closed, said draw cords being disposed within the confines of said upper awning section and hidden from direct view thereby.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 703,059 Griffin June 24, 1902 2,667,218 Collins Ian. 26, 1954 2,690,796 Woodard Oct. 5, 1954 

